Knife structure



Patented Apr. 10, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT,v OFFICE.

Anno z. Gn'rnvvoon, oF 'rEMrLr .jy,l oKTnluaonrA.

KNIFE STRUCTURE. ,I

Application med Aprn as, 1927. kseran Na. 187,347'.

An important object of the invention -is to provide a knife ofthat-.type wherein the handle is formed in twosections swlngable uponthe blade from positions where they align with the blade and provide aneXtensi-on of the tang thereof to positions where they house the blade,wherein a single catch may be employed for holding` the handle sectionsin either of said positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby, when theknife is in the closed position and the catch 1s relieved, the handlesections will automatically move toward the open position.

These and other objectskI attain by the construction shown in theaccompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illus tration is showna preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein A Figure 1 is a sideelevation showing a knife constructed in accordance with my invention inthe open or operative position;

Figure 2 is an edge elevation thereof in vsaid position;

Figure 3 is a side elevation partially broken away showing a knife inthe closed position j y vFigure 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of Figure1; f

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 1. j

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral `10generally designates a knife blade, which may be of anyusual orpreferred construction and 11 the tang of the blade. This tang hasdirected therethrough transversely spaced pivots 12 upon whicharemounted handle sections 13 and 14. lEach handle section is in theform of a U'shaped channel, the arms 14 of which at one end are extendedbeyond the connection 15 therebetween for engagement with the pivots 12.The extension of these arms provides a slot 16, permitting rotationofthe handle sections 13 and 14 about these pivots from the positionsh-owrr in Figure 1 to the position shown in Figure 3 withoutinterference by projecting guards 17,

. the tang.

which may be formed at the forward end of They ends18 of the wall 15 areso spaced from the pivots 12 that when the handle sections are in theopen position in Figure 1, they' engage solidly against the end face19ofthe tang, as the connections 15 come into engagement withone anotherand renderthe handle sections rigid tothe blade, as long as the outerends thereof are main tained in engagement with one another. j

Meansrjfor maintaining these handle secvv tions in engagement with oneanother comprises a lever 20 inserted in the channel of the member '14and pivoted to the walls f thereof adjacent the outer or free end ofthis handle member. One end of this lever is projected through a slot 21formed in the connection 15 of the member 14 and the opposite endthereof projects beyond theouter edges of the arms'. Opposite edge facesof this lever are formed at their extremities as latch jaws 22 and 23and the latch jaw 227 when the handle sections are in their handleforming positions, extends through a slot 24 formed in the connect-ion15 of the handle section 13 adjacent the free end thereof and` is heldin engagement with one wall thereof by virtue ofa spring 25, whichconstantly urges the leverabout its pivot inone direction. Movement ofthe lever in this direction islimited by astop 26 carried by the handlesection 14. When the handle sections 13 and 14 are' in their housingforming positions, the latch jaw 23 engages a latch bar 24a extendingtransversely of the channel of the section 13 adjacent the free endthereof and holds these sections in this position. The channels of eachof the menibers 13 and 14 has secured therein springs 27 which, when thehandle sections are in the housing forming position, engage against theinner or tang end of the blade 10 and are compressed thereby, so thatwhen the lever 20 is oscillated to release the latch jaw 23 from the bar24, these springs will automatically shift the handle sections towardtheir open position, greatly eXpedit-ing the operation of opening theknife.

It will be obvious that since the handle portions when in their handleforming position engage the shank of the knife and bind thereagainst, avery solid construction is provided, which will prevent the blade fromhaving any movement with relation to the handle vvithoutthe necessity ofproviding additional clamping means therefor.

The single latch structureemployed simpli fies the' construction of the`knife and `enables the same to be cheaply produced.

Since the constructioii hereinbefore s et. forth is capable of acertain' range 'of' change and modification without materiallydepts;151;T ing from the spirit of the invention, I do not limit myselfto such 'specific structure except as hereinafter claimed.

Iclaim:-' j c In a knife, a blade having aftang, a pair ofi transverselyspaced pivots carried hyl the tang,y a. channeled handle section'mounted on 'each `pivot and swingable "thereabont from 'a =positionwhere' the 'channel thereof houses aiportion of the bladle'to a positionwhere it 'alignswith the `tang,` the 'connection between the arms of thechannel i'nfthe last named position o'f the sections'engaging the Wallofthe tang, means for locking the free ends of said handle sectionstoone an other in either of 'said positions,` comprising a lever pivotedin the channel of one of the sections adjacent they freel end thereofand having its' ends extended to opposite sides ofthe sect-ion7 saidends being formed at opposite 'faces of the lever as latch jaws, theother of the sections having a bar extended transversely of its channelwith which one of the latch jaws engages when the sections are yin thefirsty named position and having an openingI formed in the connection between the arms of the channel against one wal-l of which the other ofJ[he latch jaws engages when the handle sections are in the last namedposition.l

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix inysignature.

Anno z. GATEwoon.

